McGair: David Ortiz returns to PawSox lineup and weighs in on Boston Marathon tragedy

April 16, 2013

By BRENDAN McGAIR
Sports writer
PAWTUCKET â€“ David Ortiz is resuming his rehab assignment Tuesday afternoon after two straight days of being MIA from Pawtucketâ€™s lineup. Heâ€™s batting third and serving as the PawSoxâ€™ designated hitter.
His left heel heavily bandaged after going through some pregame agility drills, Ortiz sat at his locker and held court with several reporters for about eight minutes. The conversation with the Red Sox slugger started off about his health before switching over to the tragic events that marred Mondayâ€™s Boston Marathon.
â€śI was running (Tuesday morning) and feel better,â€ť said Ortiz, who hasnâ€™t played since Saturday. â€ś(Monday) when I was limping a little bit, the trainers werenâ€™t worried about it; they thought it was something minor and not to worry about it.â€ť
Ortiz expressed hope that he can return to Bostonâ€™s lineup in time for Fridayâ€™s game at Fenway Park against Kansas City. Heâ€™s collected three hits in his two games with the PawSox, all singles.
â€śIâ€™ve seen pitches and have an idea of what I want to do, but Iâ€™m going to lie to you â€“ Iâ€™m not where I want to be right now,â€ť Ortiz expressed. â€śPlaying is the only way youâ€™re going to get there.â€ť
Like many with firm ties to the city, Ortiz expressed sorrow and frustration over what took place Monday near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
â€śIt was a tough day for anyone whoâ€™s related to Boston. My phone was blowing up from people back home calling me â€¦ it made me sick to my stomach,â€ť he said. â€śWhy would people do things like that?
â€śSome (expletive) comes out and does something like that, itâ€™s not fair,â€ť he added. â€śThis country has given me and my family an opportunity to be who I am. To see something like this happen, you just hope everyone is fine.â€ť